Handheld Sharpening Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable planar abrading or honing apparatus embodying components including modified elongated planar support block with flared ends each with holding arrangements and attached to the blocks planar surface are optional material support bases that assist various tensioned flexible abrasive material, described as abrasive tapes that facilitate manual grinding or honing and sharpening of edges upon the abrasive surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD.

Hand tools or other devices for non-rotary grinding, polishing, orstropping specially designed for sharpening cutting edges of knives ofrazors and other implements with sharpening elements in interengaging orin mutual contact.

BACKGROUND OF HANDHELD SHARPENING APPARATUS.

The project evolved from the inventor using honing stones and othertools such as files to sharpen edges of various implements towardlightening the load and fewer sharpening tools in remote places andwanting to also produce the useful convex edge using a single simple,light and compact apparatus.

This evolved planar sharpening apparatus directly relates to portable,simple and compact sized objectives and the need to be capable ofmultiple sharpening tasks, such as axe, machete, knife, razor andothers.

Essentially light compact size and flat for comfortable pocket carry andversatile for users in a range of environments from home and workplaceto remote places where simple to use and maintain are beneficialfeatures to combine the functions of a file, honing stone, leather stropand convex edge sharpener into one sharpening apparatus.

Solution was to adapt sandpaper for use as it is lightest of allsharpening surfaces so it should be used.

Prior art It is known that emeries, sandpapers, linishing belts andother abrasive agents supported on flexible backing material that canoptionally be waterproof are commonly used for sharpening by laying themon a flat surface that can be optionally resilient or non-resilient.

For simplification these abrasives on flexible backing materialvariations are generally referred to in the present documentdescriptions and claims as simply abrasive tape.

The advantages of the abrasive tape for this sharpening apparatus arelight weight, compact sized and available in different types withvarious optional grits for specific or general sharpening purposes andeasily portable and extra replacements are readily available with theuser.

The sharpening apparatus simply holds the abrasive tape on top itsplanar surface.

Abrasive tapes are easily exchangeable by replacing finally worn outabrasive tapes for new so sharpening can resume. Replacements can besourced on shop shelves and best available in the form of abrasive rollsor belts, sheets can be cut to fit.

The sharpening apparatus optionally sharpens straight or convex edges(see FIG. 1) and variations of these while held on a bench or hand held.

The sharpening apparatus is made for work in remote places but notexcluding its usefulness inside the workshop and is also practical forfood preparation and household use.

SUMMARY OF SHARPENING APPARATUS

A hand held compact size sharpening apparatus with two planar surfacesthat optionally provides several available honing surfaces for thevariety of honing or grinding options on the surface.

The sharpening apparatus construction comprises a compact light weightportable sized one part supporting block that is engineered for fittingparts onto support block planar surfaces for sharpening edges.

The support block's both sides have attached onto them optionalmaterials to support the abrasive tape.

At one end of the support block are slots and bars for abrasive tape endretention and on the opposite end the abrasive tape is held by anelastic ring that is easy to clean and easy to exchange abrasive tapes.

The sharpening apparatus is able to hold various flexible abrasive tapetypes for metal or wood or plastics and others abrading.

The combination of all parts successfully makes the sharpening apparatuslight to carry and comfortable fitting in a pocket so that it is readilyavailable for users sharpening the range of edges it was made for.

The sharpening apparatus can produce various types of edges based oncommon straight, double bevel and convex edges and variations of theedges (see FIG. 1 for common edge shape references).

A convex edge in particular has advantages and is popular due to itsshape having extra width behind the edge to strengthen and support andprevent the edge from rolling over or chipping from wear and tear. Thisedge has proven to be an advantageous type that this sharpeningapparatus can produce. A convex edge is simpler than a double edgedbevel to create as the convex is without the need for adjustingsharpening for a second angle and the edge the sharpening apparatusproduces is less prone to rollover or chipping than the straight edgeswhen honed at a lower angle for equivalent sharpness.

The sharpening apparatus is not limited to sharpening these examples;tools, axes, spades, scythes, machetes, knives and razors.

DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 drawing shows sharpened profiles produced.

FIGS. 2a and 2b drawing of the portable hand held or bench operatingedge sharpening apparatus planar view.

FIG. 3 drawing of the portable hand held or bench operating edgesharpening apparatus planar view.

FIGS. 4a and 4b drawing of the portable hand held or bench operatingedge sharpening apparatus sharpening apparatus side view.

FIG. 5 drawing of the portable hand held or bench operating edgesharpening apparatus sharpening apparatus side view.

FIG. 6 drawing of the flexible abrasive tape is attached onto a flexibletape side view.

FIG. 7 drawing of the flexible abrasive tape side view.

Identification list for drawings with new and amended elementsunderlined;

-   1 Support block.-   2 Slot for flexible abrasive tape to fit through.-   3 Bar to fit flexible abrasive tape around.-   4 First flared end.-   4 a Second flared end.-   5 Abrasive tape support base.-   6 Elastic ring.-   7 Flexible abrasive tape.-   8 Reduced waist size.-   9 Straight edge.-   10 Convex edge.-   11 Double beveled edge.-   12 Planar.-   13 Planar surface.-   14 Abrasive surface.-   15 Inflexible abrasive tape.-   16 More flexible tape.-   17 Flexible backing material.-   18 Abrasive tape support base end face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HANDHELD GRINDING, HONING OR STROPPINGAPPARATUS.

A support block 1 that is substantially firm or rigid and elongated andgenerally rectangular having two of a planar 12 that are opposing eachother and wider width at a first flared end 4 having two of a slot 2 andtwo of a bar 3 and a wider width at a second flared end 11 to retain anelastic ring 6 that is a flexible abrasive tape 7 tensioner in place.Disposed between the first flared end 4 and the second flared end 11 isa reduce waist. (See FIGS. 2a and 2b .)

The elastic ring 6 is fitted tightly onto the reduced waist size 8 atthe second flared 4A end. The elastic ring 6 holds down one or two ofthe abrasive tapes 7 for tensioning. The elastic ring 6 can be pulledoff the second flared end 4A by fingers to exchange or replace wornabrasive tapes 7. The elastic ring 6 is of a correct size to fit overthe support blocks second flared end 4A and is limited from movement bythe second flared end 4A of the support block 1. It is contemplated thatthe elastic ring has material attached. (See FIGS. 2b , 3, 4 a, 4 b and5.)

The support block 1 has the reduced waist size 8 between the firstflared end 4 and the second flared end 11 and on each of the supportblock's 1 two of the planar 12 the abrasive tape support bases 5 ofresilient or non-resilient material are attached to. (See FIGS. 2b, 4a,4b and 5.)

The Abrasive tape support bases 5 are generally rectangular in shape andsubstantially consistent thickness throughout in any of a continuousrange of suitable thickness depth to raise the sharpening planar levelabove the elastic ring 6 height so the elastic ring 6 is preferably notexposed to accidental cutting. The height of the abrasive tape supportbases 5 also blocks the elastic ring 6 from moving forward and thisretains the tension for the abrasive tape 7 so grinding, polishing, orstropping can be performed. (See FIGS. 3, 4 a and 4 b.)

Optionally the abrasive tape support base end face 18 parallels thesecond flared end 4A of the support block 1. This is for an inflexibleabrasive tape 15 fitted onto the planar surface 13 of the abrasive tapesupport base 5.(See FIG. 6.)

At the support block's 1 the first flared end 4 disposed atapproximately 90 degrees laterally relative to the support block's 1longest axis are two of the slots 2 that are elongated and created allthe way through the support block creating the two bars 3. The two slots2 and the two bars 3 are made for fitting through and wrapping around byfingers optionally none or one or two of the flexible abrasive tapes 7.Each one of the abrasive tapes 7 ends is passed through the slot 2 andthe end is disposed over the planar surface 13 and adjacently theabrasive tape support base end face 18, then the flexible abrasive tape7 is wrapped over the adjacent bar 3 away from the abrasive tape supportbase and passed through the elastic ring so that the flexible abrasivetape 7 is held by pressure and friction when the flexible abrasive tape7 is tensioned. (See FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 b and 5.)

Each one of the flexible abrasive tapes 7 ends are held firmly byfriction resistance at the support block's 1 the first flared end's 4the slots 2 and the bars 3 and tension is adjustable by manually pullingthe extra flexible abrasive tape 7 end through the retaining elasticring 6 tensioner disposed at the support block's 1 the second flared end4A. The elastic ring 6 tension creates the pressure and resistanceresponsible for retaining each one of the flexible abrasive tapes 7. Theelastic ring 6 can also be rolled forward over each one of the flexibleabrasive tapes 7 to make more of each one of the flexible abrasive tapes7 ends available for the fingers to grip if required to remove moreslack and then rolled back to the elastic ring 6 retaining place betweenthe second flared end 4 and the abrasive tape support bases end faces18. (See FIGS. 2b 4a, 4b and 5.)

The flexible abrasive tapes 7 surfaces normally do not contact thesupport block 1 to cause abrasion to it by the way they are folded overand the abrasive tape support bases 5 prevent the abrasive tape's 7 anabrasive surface 14 contacting and also increase friction tension tohold the flexible abrasives tapes 7. (See FIGS. 4a, 4b , 5 and 7)

The flexible abrasive tape's 7 the abrasive surfaces 14 clogged withswarf or metal buildup can be cleaned for longer reuse by rubbingsurface with rubber or by washing.

The support block's 1 the second flared end 11 where the elastic ring 6is held can be used as trimming guide edge for the flexible abrasivetape 7 to be cut to a length that leaves spare length on the flexibleabrasive tape 7 free to grip to pull tight for tensioning by fingers.

The removable tensioning the elastic ring 6 can optionally be abrasionresistant, hygienic food grade and replaceable after it reaches itsuseful life expiry date. Diameter of the elastic ring 6 is thick toassist rolling and stay in elastic shape.

A skilled user can optionally grind, polish, or strop materials byholding the sharpening apparatus's end by the thumb and middle fingerand index finger supports the middle or first third of the back of thesharpening apparatus for stability and moving either the sharpeningapparatus's the apparatus abrasive surface 14 on the implement's edge ormove the implement's edge on the apparatus's the abrasive surface 14 tosharpen.

Sharpening apparatus's length allows for one half or two thirds to beused for sharpening safely while held by hand. The other end can be heldin reverse and used in the same manner for full use of the length of thesurface. By not creating an extra handle it keeps the apparatus to acompact size. It is contemplated that a handle could be extended orattached.

Alternatively the sharpening apparatus can be placed on a bench forstability and held by one flared end between thumb and index finger forextra grip and then swapping to the other end and repeating the honingaction.

The sharpening apparatus produces any combinations of the followingoptions listed;

-   -   Optional leather support base 5 for razor edges where the blade        to be sharpened is stropped in one direction. Honing compounds        can optionally be applied onto the leather surface for faster        edge honing using a one directional stropping motion and not        pushing the edge into the leather.    -   Leather surface can also support the flexible abrasive tape 7        option over the top of its surface for coarse grinding through        to fine razor edge.    -   Optional foods grade or non-foods grade non-resilient abrasive        support base 5 in conjunction with the flexible abrasive tape 7        for grinding or a straight edge 9 or a double beveled edge 11        honing using said safe stropping motion or careful bidirectional        motion where the edge is moved both directions on the abrasive        surface 14.    -   Optional foods grade or non-foods grade non resilient or        resilient the flexible abrasive tape support base 5 can also be        used as a strop for finer edges with honing compounds applied to        the surface.    -   Optional foods grade or non-foods grade resilient tape support        base 5 flexibility conforms for producing a convex edge 9 or        shape using safe stropping motion or carefully bidirectionally        where the edge is moved both directions on the abrasive surface.    -   The handheld or bench operating abrading apparatus produces        shapes in the general form of; the convex edge 10, a double        beveled edge 11, a straight edge 9 (see FIG. 1) and also others        and also non-rotary grinding, polishing, or stropping materials.

An abrasive surface 14 selected from a plurality of abrasive materialsconnected to a flexible backing material 17 selected from a plurality ofthe flexible backing materials 17, combined are generally referred asthe flexible abrasive tape 7. (See FIG. 7.)

The combined thickness of the support block 1 and the flexible abrasivetapes 7 and the abrasive tape support bases 5 have a comfortable sidesurface thickness for finger grip.

The inflexible abrasive tape 15 can be adhered onto a flexible tape 16to be attached to both ends of the support block 1.

1. A portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatuscomprising; a support block that is substantially firm or rigid andelongated and generally rectangular, with opposingly two of a planarhaving, a reduced waist size and, flared wider width at its two endsand, disposed at a first flared end; disposed approximately parallel aretwo of a bar and adjacently two of a slot, for optionally retaining noneor one or two of a flexible abrasive tape generally having a width thesame or slightly less than the support block's middle planar width's thereduced waist size, and within the first flared end, disposed atapproximately 90 degrees laterally relative to the support block'slongitudinal axis are two of the slots that are elongated and createdall the way through the support block creating two of the bars, made forwrapping each one of the flexible abrasive tapes around any one of thebars and the end of the abrasive tape is passed through adjacentlycorrespondingly the slot closest to the support block's the reducedwaist size, and disposed at the opposite end of the support block; thesupport block's wider width the second flared end, where an elastic ringpreferably abrasion resistant, is held in place and tightly fitted ontothe reduced waist size, and holding the abrasive tapes that are passedthough the elastic ring, and disposed between the first flared end andthe second flared end are two an abrasive tape support base of resilientor non-resilient material individually attached to each one of thesupport block's the planar. (See FIGS. 2a, 2b , 3, 4 a, 4 b, 5, 6 and7.)
 2. The portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatusaccording to claim one 1 wherein the elastic ring is dexterously fittedover the support block's the second said flared end onto the supportblock's the reduced waist size retaining the elastic ring in place. (SeeFIGS. 2b , 3, 4 a , 4 b, and 5.)
 3. The portable hand held or benchoperating abrading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elasticring is tensioned so that it fits tightly over the flexible abrasivetape or tapes, creating surface friction to maintain the flexibleabrasive tape tension so that the flexible abrasive tape is not loosewhile manual grinding, polishing or stropping. (See FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 band 5.)
 4. The portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the elastic ring is tensioned by fingerspulling extra length of each loose end of the one or two of the flexibleabrasive tapes and the elastic ring is rolled forward over top of eachof the flexible abrasive tapes to make more of each of the flexibleabrasive tapes ends available for tensioning if required. (See FIGS. 3,4 a, 4 b and 5.)
 5. The portable hand held or bench operating abradingapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flexible abrasive tapecomprising an abrasive surface selected from a plurality of abrasivematerials connected to a flexible backing material selected from aplurality of the flexible backing materials, combined are generallyreferred as the flexible abrasive tape or tapes and endingly held formanual grinding, polishing or stropping upon the abrasive surface. (SeeFIG. 7.)
 6. The portable hand held or bench operated abrading apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein an inflexible abrasive tape is attachedonto a flexible tape to attach to both ends of the support block andheld for use by the elastic ring. (See FIG. 6.)
 7. The portable handheld or bench operating abrading apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe planar of the support block have attached onto them a material layerthat is an abrasive tape support base for supporting any suitable of thethe flexible abrasive tapes so that manual grinding, polishing orstropping is performed upon the abrasive surface of the flexibleabrasive tape. (See FIGS. 2b , 3, 4 a, 4 b and 5.)
 8. The portable handheld or bench operating abrading apparatus according to claim 7 whereinan abrasive tape support base end face is disposed at the second flaredend of the support block and the opposite abrasive tape support base endface end is correspondingly disposed at the slot at the first flared endof the support block and the abrasive tape support bases sides arefitted adjacently to the width of the support block's the reduced waistsize middle planar width for the purpose of supporting the flexibleabrasive tape and this is replicated on the support block's opposingplanar. (See FIGS. 2b , 3, 4 a, 4 b and 5.)
 9. The portable hand held orbench operated abrading apparatus according to claim 7 wherein theelastic ring is preferably protected from cuts by the height of a planarsurface on the abrasive tape support base as the elastic ring's outerdiameter height is lower than the planar surface of the abrasive tapesupport base. (See FIGS. 4a and 4b )
 10. The portable hand held or benchoperating abrading apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the abrasivetape support base end face is disposed nearer to the support block's thefirst flared end's end in order to attach any suitable of the flexibleabrasive tapes 7 that are relatively inflexible. (See FIG. 5.)
 11. Theportable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatus according toclaim 7 wherein each of the flexible abrasive tape support bases aregenerally rectangular in shape and substantially consistent thicknessthroughout in any of a continuous range of suitable thickness depth andpreferably with a planar surface. (See FIGS. 2b, 4a, 4b and 5.)
 12. Theportable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatus according toclaim 7 wherein the combined thickness of the support block and theflexible abrasive tapes and the abrasive tape support bases have acomfortable side surface thickness for finger grip. (See FIGS. 4a, 4band 5.)
 13. The portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatusaccording to claim 7 wherein the flexible abrasive tape support base endface limits the elastic ring movement and assists the retention of theflexible abrasive tapes by tension and friction. (See FIGS. 4a, 4b and5.)
 14. The portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatusaccording to claim 7 wherein the abrasive tape support bases materialare in any one of a plurality of suitable; leathers, foods grade ornon-foods grade resilient materials, foods grade or non-foods gradenon-resilient materials. (See FIGS. 2b, 4a, 4b and 5.)
 15. The portablehand held or bench operating abrading apparatus according to claim 7wherein the resilient option of the abrasive tape support baseflexibility conforms to the implements edge being sharpened therebyincreases abrasion during sharpening. (See FIGS. 2b, 4a, 4b and 5.) 16.The portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatus accordingto claim 7 wherein the resilient option of the abrasive tape supportbase creates convex edges with increased thickness behind the convexedges so the convex edges are at less risk of chipping or rolling over.(See FIGS. 2b, 4a, 4b and 5.)
 17. The portable hand held or benchoperating abrading apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the abrasivetape support base is optionally a leather for razor edge sharpening andpreferably stropping one directional action is used for sharpening. (SeeFIGS. 2b, 4a, 4b and 5.)
 18. The portable hand held or bench operatingabrading apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the abrasive tapesupport base end face that is correspondingly adiacent to the slotwherein the end of the flexible abrasive tape is fitted through anddisposed between the abrasive tape support base's the planar and theflexible abrasive tape that is fitted on top of the planar surface ofthe abrasive tape support base. (See FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5.)
 19. Theportable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatus according toclaim 1 uses include non-rotary grinding, polishing, or stroppingmaterials.